Thursday

May 16, 2019 at 2:50 PMMay 16, 2019 at 5:12 PM

I wasn't expecting the men in diapers.

You would think that, after spending some 200 hours in the "Yakuza" world, I wouldn't be surprised by such ridiculous antics. But that's just one of many charms of "Yakuza Kiwami 2." Yes, it's a remake of 2006's "Yakuza 2," but it has plenty of pizzazz and surprise all its own — and yes, men in diapers.

But before that: The premise of "YK2," which largely tracks the plot of the original game, has series protagonist Kazama Kiryu returning to Japan's dark and brutal underworld as an existential threat looms over his former clan, the Tojo. Osaka's Omi Alliance, long a major rival to the Kamurocho-based Tojo, plays the most violent of opening hands — sending hitmen to assassinate the Tojo's fifth chairman at a cemetery in broad daylight.

This, in turn, forces the most reluctant yakuza in the world, who happens to have been the Tojo's fourth chairman and is known far and wide as the Dragon of Dojima, to do what he can to save his city. But it wouldn't be a "Yakuza" entry without plenty of crime-drama shenanigans — and one major, tattooed threat — standing in Kazama's way of preventing all-out war between thousands of yakuza.

Enter Goda Ryuji, the leader of the Go-Ryu Clan, the son of the current Omi chairman and the self-styled Dragon of Kansai. The ambitions of this prodigal son serve as the crux of the "Kiwami 2's" narrative. When it comes to Kazama, he sees no world in which two dragons can exist; as for the Tojo, well, what better way to prove his clan's superiority than by destroying a rival?

While we get little backstory for this hulking villain until the very end of the 20-something-hour game (it took me about 33 hours to finish, but that included some major side-questing and mini-game completion), Goda is by far the most charismatic villain I've faced in the "Yakuza" series. (If it tells you anything, as I write this I'm having trouble remembering most of the major villains outside of "Yakuza 0" and the first "Yakuza.") He's cunning and charming, sincere in his beliefs, honorable in his own way and determined to leave his mark on the yakuza world — a dangerous combination of attributes in your primary antagonist.

Much like in other "Yakuza" titles, though he's tasked with saving the Tojo from certain destruction, several other plot threads pull at Kiryu along the way. When he's not dealing with the vicious machinations of Goda or the Omi, Kazama is contending with Kaoru Sayama, a Osakan police detective who's hiding secrets of her own. Over time, as the two battle assassins and thugs and other various enemy combatants, they bond — and, for the first time in forever, I'm reminded that Kazama is capable of emotions that aren't directly related to honor and family.

Expanding the world

Look, no one has ever claimed that following a "Yakuza" story is simple. Even when there's just one main character (unless four and five in "Yakuza 4" and "Yakuza 5," respectively), it's difficult to keep track of what's happening thanks to all the twists, turns and deus ex machinas that are part and parcel for the franchise. "Kiwami 2" continues that trend, adding even more complex narrative threads than the first "Kiwami." It's a lot to take in, and more than once I found myself saying, "I don't know what's happening anymore," especially since large chunks of the middle of the game can feel like padding more than anything else. A tighter and consistently paced narrative would have gone a long way here.

But once you've had your fill of the oh-so-dense plot (because, just like every other "Yakuza" game, you can take a break and simply enjoy the amenities of the game's two major locations, Kamurocho and Sotenbori (both of which are based on real Japanese cities). "Kiwami 2" takes a much more expansive view on remastering than "Kiwami" did, adding perspectives and activities that weren't available in the original title.

Along with the series staples of karaoke, Sega arcade games and golf/baseball, "Kiwami" wisely brings back the cabaret club management mini-game that stole my heart (and time) in "Yakuza 0." (Also, though not quite as much to my liking, is the return of the real-time strategy-like/fortress defender mini-game from "Yakuza 6: The Song of Life." In that game, you controlled streets gangs. Here, you control construction workers. It's suffice to say I didn't get as much enjoyment out of it a second time around.)

The highlight, though, is the return of series anti-hero Goro Majima as a playable character. As you progress through the game, you unlock three chapters, totaling about 90 minutes, in which you learn some backstory; however, the more important aspect is that you get to play as Goro. It's not nearly as involved as playing as Kazama (in fact, you're basically restricted to the plot and a limited number of side quests), but it's never a bad time hanging out with the leather-wearing, eye-patch-having psychopath with a demon dagger.

And then there are the substories. As with the series in general, the dozens of side quests you can embark on offer everything from meta commentary on society's view on women to, yes, men in diapers. You can go on dates with hostesses, teach a young girl how not to get scammed and show off Kazama's inner model.

Street fighting

Visually, "Kiwami 2," developed by Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio and published by Sega, is simply stunning. The game makes the most use of Sega's Dragon Engine, which powered "Yakuza 6," running at 1080p on the PlayStation 4 Pro and locked at 30 frames-per-second. The cities of Kamurocho and Sotenbori are gorgeous and well-designed, full of little touches that make the world feel alive and lived-in. The load times could be a bit ridiculous, but that was generally the only issue I had technically.

Combat-wise, "Kiwami 2" sticks with the same leveling and fighting systems from "Yakuza 6," which is a bit of a shame because it doesn't offer the depth that "Yakuza 0" provided with its multiple fighting styles. Brawling here maintains that same gritty, crunchy feeling that makes combat so enjoyable, but it slimmed down to mostly punching, blocking and building Heat so you can use a more powerful, often cartoonishly violent power attack. Experience is gained through fights, eating and story/quest completion; completing all but of a handful of substories and engaging in most street fights, I ended the game on normal difficulty with a huge subset of the available skills and perks.

In the end, "Yakuza Kiwami 2" is a fantastic remake of a quirky Japanese crime-drama starring the most honorable ex-yakuza you've ever met. It has its flaws — a plot that plods along at times, a simpler fighting system compared to "Yakuza 0" — but the new and updated materials — the top-notch graphics, the hilarious substories, the return of "Yakuza 0's" cabaret club mini-game, the Goro Majima side story — more than make up for them. As someone who came late to the franchise, getting the chance to partake in Kazama Kiryu's earlier adventures on a current console (with this and the first "Yakuza Kiwami") has been a treat, and it doesn't hurt that it's a good game, to boot. Now I'm just waiting for that "Yakuza 3" remaster.

You can contact Dominic, especially with game suggestions, at dbaez@registerguard.com or follow him on Twitter @Silver_Screenin. You can check out his blog at silverscreeningreview.com.

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.

Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted.
The Register-Guard ~ 3500 Chad Drive, Suite 600, Eugene, OR 97408 ~ Privacy Policy ~ Terms Of Service